Report from Afghanistan
Korea Vet News - Independent Internet Publication - August 26, 2007
Dedicated to the sacrifice and indomitable spirit
of Korean War Veterans
Je Me Souviens
Captain Brandy McKenna describes receiving fallen soldier at aid station in Kandahar and later the heartbreak and pride of attending ramp ceremony to send him home for burial.
Soldat Simon Longtin, 23, 3e Bataillon du Royal 22e Régiment
Killed in action near Kandahar, August 19, 2007
This e-Mail letter from Captain Brandy McKenna describes her participation in receiving the body of Soldat Simon Longtin shortly after he was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 19, 2007.
Captain McKenna's poignant letter expresses what all must have felt who received Soldat Longtin at the medical facility and those who participated in the ramp ceremony when he was sent home to Canada.
Captain McKenna is a health care coordinator. Her position in Kandahar is National Medical Liaison Officer.
The e-Mail letter was provided to us by LCol (Ret'd) John Shilling.
Hello All,
Again, thanks to everyone for sending me such nice thoughts. They really do mean a lot and I love hearing from everyone.
I write this e-mail in a somewhat somber state. Some of you have asked what a sunset ramp ceremony is. This ceremony takes place on the Kandahar Air Field and it is assembled in memory of a fallen Canadian soldier.
This ceremony, held in the evening or during the night, is the last official good-bye to the fallen soldier. It's the last time he will parade in front of his unit; the last time his buddies and comrades will see him in all his honour; it is his last ‘steps' he takes as a soldier.
At the same time, it's the last time for his comrades and all soldiers to pay their respects before he is laid to rest back home in Canada.
In my last e-mail I wrote that my one goal was to never have to attend one.
That was broken tonight. I received a knock on my door at 0200 hrs on Sun morning (19 Aug 07).
See, when all Canadians are injured, I am called in to work as I am the National Medical Liaison Officer. What this means is when Canadian soldiers are injured I report on their status and provide reports up the chain of command to keep everyone informed - the reports are both within theatre and back home to Canada.
Another part of my job is to ensure the Padre is on scene at the hospital as well so that once the casualties arrive in the facility, pending their state, they can call home to speak with their Next of Kin to let them know they are OK (so far most of the injured soldiers have been able to talk on their own so these, believe it or not, are the good phone calls).
I'm always around for the phone calls and even sometimes called upon to hold the phone as the injured soldier makes ‘that' phone call home. It's not a fun job but I know a necessary one. That, I feel, is my part here...
I used to think this was the most difficult part of my job - but I was proved wrong yesterday morning. After the phone call, I quickly got dressed and was at work (approx 1.5 km from my room) by 0215 hrs and we received reports that the Canadian casualty was coming in.
The outcome didn't look positive but we had not yet lost our first Canadian together and we didn't want this one to be the one. There's always a bit of denial.
The casualty was expected to come in approx one hour later and by then, his Chain of Command was already at the facility. Outside the clinical ward waited the Padre and about five others waiting to hear when the young Private was coming in.
We were all hopeful...the Private arrived within the hour and I advised the anxious comrades. Unfortunately, when he arrived, there was not much to do.
There he was, a young Private of 23, our first deceased Canadian soldier.
No one really knows what to do in a case like that....but we got through it. I saw more than I needed to see that morning; I will always remember him.
So tonight we said our good-byes.
At night Fallen Soldat Simon Longtin is carried to the ramp of a waiting Hercules transport plane that will carry him out of the Kandahar air field and home to the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario. There hundreds of Canadians will line the overpass ramps to pay their respects as the hearse passes along Highway 401 between Trenton and a medical reception centre in Toronto. The 170 km stretch will soon be dedicated as the "Highway of Heroes." Soldat Longtin of 3e Bataillon du Royal 22e Régiment had served in Afghanistan for just two weeks before being killed in action. His death was followed four days later by that of Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier from his battalion and Master Corporal Christian Duchesne of 5e Ambulance de campagne. Both soldiers were killed in action on August 23rd.
We had the sunset ceremony and bid farewell to another Canadian who gave his life so that others could live theirs.
You can't really describe the emotion one feels at that point when the ceremony takes place.
Where I stood, the Hercules aircraft was to my left with its ramp lowered in order to receive the red and white draped casket. All the soldiers were saluting proudly as the escorted casket was gallantly marched between two columns while Amazing Grace was played.
I now know my proudest moment as a Canadian...that was it. Saying good-bye to a young brave soldier who so selflessly put himself in danger so that he could make the world a better place.
As I stood and saluted there I said a prayer for him and his family and I did it on behalf of us all.
When I stand at those ceremonies, know that I stand there for you all as well.
The casket was marched, the pipes were piped and the soldier, and the comrades, said good-bye for the very last time.
Thank you all for supporting me as much as you have and for supporting what we do as a Canadian military.
That was a difficult one.
I will sign off here for now. I'm sorry for making this e-mail not as
chipper as I would normally but I wanted to share my experience
with you.
As many of you have done, feel free to pass along to family and friends. I can only send to so many recipients...thanks.
Love Brandy
Published by the Canadian Korean War Commemoration Council
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Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation: http://